This unusually touching memoir, released in 1994, finds John Denver speaking directly to his longtime fans as well as fellow environmentalists, peace advocates, and die-hard romantics. Seated comfortably on a rustic fenc... more &raquoe or rock wall, his beloved Rocky Mountains in the background, the middle-aged Denver recalls highlights from his life and career: a youth spent in Oklahoma, Arizona, and Alabama before Colorado won his heart; the way a camping trip and the Perseids meteor shower led to composing "Rocky Mountain High"; his adventures with Jacques Cousteau while writing "Calypso." There's plenty of video accompaniment, including old performance footage, deep-sea imagery, documentary material on the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, and even custom-made music videos to dress up the sexy "Don't Close Your Eyes Tonight" and Jimmy Webb's haunting composition, "Postcards from Paris (Wish You Were Here)." Most of all, there's John Denver's striking if low-key humanity, his finest asset as an artist. --Tom Keogh&laquo less

Movie Reviews

DVD looks no better than video

Tom Anderson | Piney Flats, Tennessee United States | 05/30/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Although I'm a fan of John Denver, I'm not overly fond of this item--it's just not that interesting. However, my chief complaint is picture quality. The excerpts of John's TV specials and music videos are okay, but the footage filmed for this project stinks. There's very little contrast, sharpness or detail, and the color looks like that of a badly-adjusted color TV: smeary, blotchy, and mostly just red-orange--especially flesh tones. There's also much video noise and some artifacts (dust and dirt). Quite frankly, the VHS edition looks the same, and I would bet money the manufacturer used the master for the videotape and simply transfered it to DVD--no adjustments, no going back to the negative do redo it (in fact, the transfer print looks like it is several generations removed from the negative). Home video has NEVER looked this bad! I'll never understand how Mr. Denver could have remotely approved this video, and it's a pitiful legacy for such a talented performer and songwriter."

One fantastic, far out video!!

03/26/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a true John Denver fan, This is the video you want to have in your collection. John goes on in the video to tell about his life and how many of his songs were developed from being in nature. From the Colorodo mountains he loved to the last Frontier of Alaska, you travel with John and his kids and friends to discover what this man really believed in."

John Denver: A Portrait

Noreen Oswalt | Coraopolis, Pennsylvania | 01/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Denver has always been honest and sincere and it comes through in this video. It is wonderful to listen to how the songs were created. He has always been a wonderful story teller. I wish he was here to tell us more. "Though the singer is silent there still is the truth of the song""

A pleasant surprize: documentary style, but some good stuff.

02/15/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was surprized by the documentary style presentation of this video, but really like most of the songs and their accompanying video. I appreciated the lyrics much more after hearing of how they came about, especially Rocky Mountain High, Calypso, and the "uncle named Matthew". The background, music and video of "Don't Close Your Eyes Tonight" is pretty sensual for a country boy. A couple of the more policitally based songs I'd never heard before, but they were tolerable. Also, seeing John as a young newcomer with that wonderfully clear voice was great! I'd forgotten how "rocky-mountain high" his vocal range really is. Denver fans will enjoy this one - and it will tug at your heartstrings to see him bearded, surrounded by his favorite meadows and mountains, and talking directly to you as if over a cup of Starbucks. We'll miss him."

John Denver fans, you have to have this video!

Noreen Oswalt | 01/24/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is John's self-portrait. It's what he would tell you about himself if you were a close friend who asked, "Of all the work you have done, what did you enjoy the most and what are you proudest of? And please tell me the stories behind how it all came about." Wonderful! There are videos on this tape that I have never seen before. It's a touching and joyful look into the heart of this brilliant, amazing man. END"